Belgium fumes as FIFA clears Balogun to face USA in World Cup last 16

ByWilson Mwangi

First Published: July 6, 2026, 9:41 AM ET

SEATTLE — The countdown to Belgium’s FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match against the United States in Seattle was marred by controversy after the home side’s forward, Folarin Balogun, was cleared to play after being suspended by FIFA. The Round of 16 is the first of the World Cup’s single-elimination rounds, where losing a match eliminates a country’s chances of winning the World Cup.

Belgium advanced to the Round of 16 after eliminating Senegal, and the United States progressed to the Round of 16 with a win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. At that time, Balogun was looking to miss the tie after being sent off on a straight red card. Still, FIFA’s disciplinary committee applied an exception to their regulations and suspended that automatic one-game suspension, clearing Balogun for the meeting in Seattle.

Belgian coach Rudi Garcia has been caught between a rock and a hard place as he prepares for a crucial World Cup match and waits for FIFA’s final decision. Instead of being drawn into the controversy, the French coach has said his team has to play a full game against the dangerous Americans and has not been deterred by the fact that Balogun was ousted from the team with a public question he posed regarding his removal.

Rudi Garcia leaving the pitch after Belgium's late comeback against Senegal at the Seattle Stadium in Seattle, Washington, on July 1, 2026 at 5:30 PM. Photo: AFP.

Belgium feels FIFA’s ruling is unsportsmanlike as it nullifies what it sees as an automatic suspension just a day before the match. The Belgian football federation has indicated that it is considering legal action, and FIFA has stated it is not responsible for disciplinary action and that the committee did not violate its rules. The clash has put another strain on a knockout battle in which a berth in the quarter-finals is on the line, with questions about the consistency of disciplinary decisions in the game alongside the knockout battle.

The debate has put the spotlight on one of the World Cup’s marquee knockout games and may remain a topic of discussion after the World Cup is over. The decision has increased the pressure on a game with far-reaching sporting and economic implications for Belgium and the United States, as a defeat would end its World Cup campaign.

“I didnÔÇÖt know that July 5th was April FoolÔÇÖs Day; itÔÇÖs new news for me. Our thoughts and opinions are in the statement – we are defending football; itÔÇÖs the first time in World Cup history that this decision has been made," said Rudi Garcia, Belgium Head Coach.”

The spat is likely to be settled off the pitch before the start of the game, and Belgium can canter on to their game after all the legal proceedings are resolved. The spotlight is now on 90 minutes in Seattle, and the players will do the rest from there, rather than the controversy, as Belgium look to make a mark on the night with the game, and not the discipline.